Locomotive boiler firebox



Aug. 22, l1944. A. w. NELSON LOCOMOTIVE BOILER FIREBOX 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 2 6, 1942 Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE h2,3%,.264y Locouerlve BOILER FIREBOX Arthur Nelson,`Park Ridge, Ill., assigner to Locomotive lireboi: Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application Septcmlier 26, 19,421,1Serial No. 459,177.2

, ClaimsA (Cl.- 122-68) This invention relatesgto improvements vin locomotive boiler reboxes and it consists of the matters hereinafter described .and morepartien ularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is more especially eoneerned with locomotive boiler lreboxes of the ,kind equipped With .the ,S0-Called Side sheet Qmu.- lators which are spaced longitudinallyk of the rebox and `extend transversely thereof andeach of which include `tubular lower portions that open at one end through `the side sheets of the fireboX and one or more upper portions Vthat areconnected at one end to the lower p ortion and open at the top end through ythe crown sheet.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide in a locomotive boiler iirebox ofthe kind mentioned, simple and inexpensiveand elfi.- cient means whereby a water circulation is established between the various elements, the evaporating surface of the flrebox is increased, and at the same time the elements are connected together and braced against undesired movement longitudinally of the liirebox.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, together with others, as well as the advantages thereof will morefully appear ,as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal Vertical sectional View through a combustion type of locomotive boiler iirebox embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional ,View through?7L part ofthe Vboiler, on an .enlargedscale as taken on the line `2-.2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is 4 a detail longitudinal horizontal ,sectional View through Fig. l as taken on vthe line 3,3 thereof and o-n a scale enlarged thereover.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of `partsappearing in Fig. 2 and shows a Vmodified arrangement therefor as will later be mentioned Vin more de-V tail.

Fig.k 5 is a Vertical sectional view through parts appearing in Fig. 4 and as taken on .the line 5-5 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing amodied form of arrangement of certain Nparts .appearing in the upper left hand corner` of Fig. .1.

Referring now in detail to that Vembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the rebox therein shownl comprises a crown sheet 5, which merges into the inner side sheets 6, the back sheet 1 and inner throat sheet 8.i The crown sheet Iextends forwardly of the inner threat Sheet. ,tafelen the. top l,of the com buston chamber l9. This .chamber is closed lat the front by a flue sheet lll'and th bottom il of said chamber merges .into .the front end of the innerthroat'sheet. 's

`"Il he outer rear .sheet of the boiler is indicated at I2, the outer side sheets are indicatedat -I3 (see Figl 2) and the outer throat sheet is indicated at .UL `The said sheets |2 |3 and llcooper-L atewith the top sheet t5 .of the .boiler and v'with the inner sheets -5, 6, 'l and v8 in forming the back water leg 1.6, thefside .water legs ISa and thelfront throat I1 respectively, all in `communication .with the waterspace I3 of the boiler. The back and side water legs andthe front throat are rbottomed bya .mudring ISan'd portions ,of the-.inner andfouter back sheets are formed to coactY in yproviding a conventional fuel door opening 2.0. The .crown sheet .and side sheets are connected .to thetop Vsheet |25A and .to they outer side sheets I3 by staybolts 2l andfthese are disposed in rows extending longitudinally andftransversely ofA the'reboir as a'whole.' yThe 'structure just described is vconventional in locomotyeboiler type of ireboX and requires -no further .detailed description. W

fToTincrease theefective evaporating silirface ofthe rebox andthe water steaming 'a'.ndcirculating yeflic'ziency of ythe'[assl'iciated boiler, aswell as ,to providesupportfor anarch inthe ,'rebox when such anarch'isdesired, ,the following I,arrangement ispresent: o y

In the rebox-I provide oneor more nfletribelrs, eaclfi` havinga lower portion that `has its lends opening .through the side sheets `vand a plurality of spaced vapart upperpor-tions ythat connectthe said lower portionfwith the' boiler water :space above the crown sheet. The number of f such members is', ofcourse'. dependent Yupon the size and type Vof rebox. As shown in Fig.. 1, there are sevenof such members. vspaced `apart longitudinally of the rebo'x asy a whole and Aextending transversely thereof, with :five of such members vdisposed the-main re chamber of .the firboxlallof whichare connected as .hereinafter described, to constitute la unitary water jsteamf ingand circulating 'device' or element. Disposed inthe combustion chamber, there are shown-two additional members. Beginning at the .rear end ofthe irebox, .thesemembers bear the Yconsecuand v28 vrrespectively.- d n A ll'of these .members .are similar v.in ,structure and differ only in size, as manifested `principally 1.1.1 -ihelength .gf Certain 0f thrperts lidf- Therefgre ederipitqeef@gewerbe ,will .Slifiice for all. Taking the member 26 (see Fig. 2) in the main re chamber as an example, merely because it has the greatest vertical height or length, the same includes a hollow lower portion in the form of a pair of outwardly and downwardly extending tubular inlet legs 29-29 respectively, the outer end of each of which opens through and is welded pressure-tight in an associated side sheet 6 of the rebox. 30-30 indicate the upwardly extending tubular outlet legs of the member, the lower ends of which curve inwardly toward each other to connect with the top central part of a junction portion 3 I, the bottom part of which is in communication with the top central part of the inlet legs 29-29. If desired, but not necessarily so, so far as the present invention is concerned, I may provide an upright partition 32 in the junction portion 3| of each member to divide the same into two channels 3333 each connecting an inlet leg 29 with an outlet leg 30 on the same side of the partition.

Cross reference is hereby made to my co-pending application led September 26, 1942, Serial No. 459,771, which discloses and claims certain of the features which are herein disclosed but not claimed.

To establish a circulation between certain of the members and especially between those in the main fire chamber of the firebox, as well as to increase the evaporating surface thereof, and at the same time to provide a bracing between said members longitudinally of the rebox, I provide the following constructions: Between each two adjacent members in the main re chamber, I provide one or more longitudinally extending tubes, which are fixed pressure-tight, as by welding, at their ends in parts of said adjacent members. In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown two of such tubes 34-34, as extending longitudinally between each two adjacent members in the main re chamber. When two of such tubes are employed, they are disposed one on each side of the plane of the partitions 32 in said adjacent members, each with their ends opening into the inner end of the associated inlet legs and at a point substantially disposed slightly below the junction portion k3| of said member. These tubes 34-34 provide for the establishment of a water circulation between said members as well as providing additional evaporating surface. They also connect and brace the lower central portions of the members longitudinally of the lrebox, thus uniting the members into an integral whole well adapted to withstand the strains and stresses to which the device is subjected in use.

Preferably I provide similar tubes between the frontmost and the rearmost members 26 and 22 and adjacent parts of the firebox and in the present instance tubes 35 connect the front side of the front member 26 with the top of the inner throat sheet, and tubes 36 connect the rear side of the rear member 22 with the rear l*sheet 1 of the iirebox. Washout plugs 31 are preferably provided in the sheets l2 and I4 in line with the tubes 36 and 35, respectively, all as best appears in Fig.`1.

' Instead of the tubes 36 opening through the back sheet 1, they may open through the crown sheet as at 36x as best appears in Fig. 6, other parts in said figure similar to those appearing in Fig. 1 bearing the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. j

In lieu of employing two of such tubes between each two adjacent members, I mayu'se only one of them as appears in Fig. 4. Under such condition, the tube, which is indicated at 31 is preferably of a diameter larger than the tubes 34 and it is disposed with its axis in the plane of the ipartition 38 in said adjacent members. To prevent the water in the inlet legs of each member from by-passing from one side to the other of the partitions, I provide said partitions with extension pieces 39 (see Fig. 5) which project a. short distance into the ends of the tubes 31.

When an arch is desired in the rebox, a series of side bricks 40 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is laid upon the inlet legs 29-29 of the members in the main re chamber, with the ends of said bricks, considered longitudinally, engaged upon said legs. The innermost bricks of the same set are separated to provide a space in the plane of the junction portions of the members and this space is lled in by a central key brick 4I that has a wedge-like engagement Iat its sides with said innermost bricks as best appears in Fig. 2. It is to be noted from Figs. 2 and 4 respectively that the center or key bricks extend over the tubes 34-34 and 31.

With the arrangement of parts as described, the said tubes, just above mentioned, provide a water circulation between said members. Said tubes also increase the evaporating surface of the iirebox as a whole and at the same time connect said elements together so that they brace one another longitudinally of the flrebox.

The members 21 and 28 in the combustion chamber may be connected by one or more tubes 34e as shown, thus uniting them into a single or unitary water circulating and steaming element or device. One end of a tube 34d is connected to one of said members 21-28 and its other end opens through the bottom ll of the combustion chamber 9 while one end of another tube 34e is connected to the other of said members and its other end opens through the crown sheet.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a. locomotive boiler rebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the iirebox, each member comprising a lower portion that extends transversely of the firebox and has its ends opening through the side sheets and an upper portion connecting said lower portion with the Water space of the boiler above the crown sheet, bricks supported upon the lower portion of said members to provide a fire arch in the rebox, and means arranged below and in non-supporting relation with respect to said arch and extending longitudinally of thefrebox, for providing a water communication between adjacent members and connecting them so they constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device. l f

2. In combination with a locomotiveboiler firebox embodying therein a crown sheetand side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally fspacedwater steaming and circulatingv members in 'the firebox, each member comprising a lower portion that 'extends transversely of the lflrebox and has its ends opening through the side sheets r'and an upper portion vconnecting `said lower portion 'with' the water space of the boiler above the crown sheet, and means extending longitudinally of the rebox, providing a water communication between the lower portions of adjacent members, at an elevation above the ends thereof and connecting them so they constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device.

3. in combination with a locomotive boiler iirebox embodying therein a crown sheet, a front throat sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending water steaming and circulating members in the i'lrebox, each member comprising a lower portion having ends opening through the side sheets and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening separately through the crown sheet and connecting said lower portion with the boiler water space above the crown sheet, means extending longitudinally of the rebox and providing a water communication between parts of adjacent members below the upper portions thereof and connecting them so they constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device, and a tubular member opening at one end into the frontmost water steaming and circulating member and opening at its other end through said throat sheet.

4. n combination with a locomotive boiler rebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the iirebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the rebox and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening at the upper end through the crown sheet and connected by a junction portion to the associated lower portions, and means extending longitudinally of the rebox and providing a water communication between parts adjacent the junction portions of adjacent members and connecting them so they constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device.

5. In combination with a locomotive boiler rlrebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the rebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the rebox and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening at the upper end through the crown sheet, and connected to said lower portions by a junction portion divided into non-communicating passageways, each in separate communication with an upper and a lower portion relatively, and tubular means extending longitudinally of the irebox and affording communication between the passageways of one member with the passageways in an adjacent member and connecting said members so they constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device.

6. In combination with a locomotive boiler iirebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the rebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the rebox, and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening at the upper end through the crown sheet, and connected to said lower portions by a junction portion divided into non-communicating passageways, each in separate communication with an upper and a Alower portion relatively, and a tubular member extending longitudinally oi the iirebox and af' foroling communication between the passageways of one member with the passageways oi an adjacent member, and connecting said members so thei7 constitute a unitary water circulating and steaming device.

'7. In combination with a locomotive boiler nrebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the nrebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the rebox and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening at the upper end through the crown sheet, and connected to said lower portions by a junction portion divided into non-communicating passageways, each in separate communication with an upper and a lower portion relatively, and tubular means extending longitudinally of the rebox and connecting said members at the junction portion thereof as a unitary water steaming and circulating device, said tubular means having an operative connection with a part of the water space of the boiler spaced from said members.

8. 1n combination with a locomotive boiler firebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the rebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the iirebox and a plurality of spaced upper portions, each opening at the upper end thr-ough the crown sheet, and connected to said lower portions by a junction portion, means in each junction portion dividing the same into non-communicating passageways, each in separate communication with an upper and a lower portion respectively, and a tube extending lon-r gitudinally of the rebox and bracing and connecting the junction portion of one member with the junction portion of an adjacent member, said means in said junction portion of one member having portions extending into each tube conne-cted therewith for preventing water communication between said passageways of said member.

9. In combination with a lo-comotive boiler firebox embodying therein a crown sheet and side sheets, a plurality of longitudinally spaced water steaming and circulating members in the firebox, each comprising lower portions that extend transversely of the rebox and a plurality of spaced upper portions each opening at the upper end through the crown sheet and connected by a junction portion to the associated lower portion, bricks supported upon the lower portions of the respective elements to provide a re arch in the rebox, and means extending longitudinally of the rebox below said arch and providing a, water communicating and bracing connection between adjacent elements.

ARTHUR WM. NELSON. 

